Turning the Channel...

May 12, 2009

Danielle Joyner Kelley

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke 6:38.

Today I woke up and received a phone call from my cousin in Alabama. I had been up all night with all my so-called problems, and whined to her about them. I asked her how she was doing and she told me that her and her husband had watched Joyce Meyer on television last night and that it really moved her.

I got some details from her about the sermon, but went on about my day thinking how bad everything has been lately and how I love God even more, but that I don’t know what to do. Tonight I was lying in bed and that sermon came on television. I decided to watch it and am so glad that I did. For a while now I have felt so close to God, and begged Him to keep me humble and on track with Him.

What I quickly forget is that when I ask for that and He answers me it may not always be a pleasant experience, but it is always an eye opening one. He wants us to see truth. And I will be honest. In this world today, truth can be ugly. We wake up every morning and hear from the television or others how bad the recession is, and how housing rates have fallen. Some of us have lost jobs, houses, and so much more. We cry out to God and wonder why He is allowing this to happen to us. And we want someone to come down with a sweet hand and hold us close.

The truth? We are so consumed with ourselves that we cannot remember for longer than a second that God can see the entire universe. You are sitting there worrying about whether or not your DVR is working, and God is watching a child being raped, a person being shot, a mother dying in childbirth. He is watching children digging through dumpsters trying to feed their family, children dying of starvation, and common illnesses that it takes us no longer than three days to conquer.

I am left with one question. Who do we think we are? When a recession happens what do you do? Do you moan and wail about how horrible it is on your life? No, you get up and show the world that you don’t want anyone else suffering financially by your own actions. We run around and tell everyone how much we love Jesus, and how grateful we are for His sacrifice to save ourselves. Do you ask yourself why that had to happen? Do you ask yourself truly why Jesus had to suffer? Or do you just think about the fact that His suffering saved your own hide? His suffering saved you, but it also provided an example of how you “are to” not “should” be. “A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.” Luke 6:40.

I am not doing enough. I can write all day long, encourage all day long, and speak all day long about Him, but I am not doing enough when there is more I can do. It is that simple. If there is more you can do besides what you are doing then you are NOT doing enough. “If at all possible, as far as it depends on you, leave at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18. Does that say live in peace with Americans? Canadians? French? English? No. It says EVERYONE. The entire world. All of God’s creation. Who do we think we are?

It is simple. Love is nothing unless you show it. Selflessness is nothing unless you show it. You can be as loving and selfless as you can be, but if no one sees it what good does it do you? Jesus told us, “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:46-48. I

If you are walking around looking at the world and complaining stop for a second and tell God thank you that you can walk and see. If you think that is hard imagine yourself not able to do either. Even though there is so much suffering, we are the ones who complain and ruin the waitress’s day for bringing us a Diet Coke instead of a Sprite. We are the ones who think we are so all-important that everyone should know what we want. “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17.

Our individual hurt is horrible to us, and we individually feel it. And we can tell ourselves that we have the right to complain about not getting what we want because we work so hard. There are lots of people working harder than us and getting less though. What about them?

If you think you work hard so you deserve more and God sees everything we are not doing in the meantime, what do you think He will do? If you run around and say you have “done so much” and you complain that you don’t understand why you are not getting the reward for your work, what do you really think is wrong? You can do all the work you want but if you complain about it you just scratched the scoreboard back to zero. “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:6-8.

When we see commercials about starving and abused children or animals we often turn it because we cannot stand to see such pain. The truth is that you can turn the channel all you want, but you are only saving one person pain: yourself. The child or animal is still feeling it. Turning the channel is not enough. Reaching out is plenty. “But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded." 2 Chronicles 15:7.

Stop thinking about what your own life is like here, and start thinking how much worse others have it. This is not truly life. As many times as I can I will always tell everyone the truth: this life is temporary and it is going to end – there is no getting around that fact. So concentrate on where you are going. Love is life. “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.” 1 John 3:14.

Right now being “rich” is not truly being “rich” as we think it is. Being “rich” is being “giving”. “Life” is not “life” as we think it is because true “life” is eternal not temporary. “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” 2 Timothy 6:17-19.

Stop concentrating on things that can be taken away from you in an instant. How valuable is your house when it is destroyed by fire or flood? How valuable is your ring with a lost diamond? How valuable is your gold when a thief steals it?

We don’t have to lose things or suffer affliction to understand what we are supposed to do. You don’t have to lose your own home in a fire in order to decide to help the homeless. You can start now. “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” 1 John 3:17-18.

You want to start seeing the reward? Start doing for others. Start showing God that you also love all His children. “He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done.” Proverbs 19:17.

There is no love apart from God, and because He is love, He knows everything about love. We have only a grasp of that true meaning. But we know what we should do. We know what is right or we would not be bothered enough to turn the channel. You are a child of God and you are blessed with what is true. “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” 1 John 4:7-8.

I got the answer to my prayer. I am being humbled. And as ugly as the truth can be, Praise to God for sharing with me what He sees so I can be His hands and feet here on Earth. I won’t turn the channel again. If He has to see it I have to also. To motivate me. To challenge me.

And most of all: to be more like my Teacher.